4 Agencies Fight for Johnsonville Sausage

Brand spends $30 million in media annually

Johnsonville Sausage is in the late stages of a creative review, with incumbent Cramer-Krasselt defending against three rivals, sources said.

Source identified the other finalists as Fallon, Droga5 and Crispin Porter + Bogusky. The brand's media spending exceeded $30 million last year, according to Kantar Media.

C-K, whose Milwaukee office has handled the account since 2008, did not return calls and Johnsonville in Sheboygan Falls, Wisc., could not immediately be reached. The consultancy managing the search, Avidan Strategies in New York, also didn't return calls.

Sources said, however, that final presentations will take place in the next few weeks and a decision is expected early next month.

The brand's marketing this year included an online push in August leading up to National Bratwurst Day. The "Bratsgiving" campaign included video and posts on Facebook and other social media.

The search does not include media planning and buying, which remains at Compass Point Media, the media unit of Interpublic Group's Mithun, which changed its name from Campbell Mithun this week.